Andy Burnham newest: Mayor ‘disappointed’ after bid to return as Labour MP in by-election is blocked | EUROtoday

A Labour MP has warned that “there’ll be a lot of bloodletting” following the transfer to dam Andy Burnham from standing within the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton.

Karl Denton issued the warning to Metro, whereas he additionally advised LBC that the NEC’s determination was a “mistake”.

Sir Keir Starmer personally led the calls to dam Andy Burnham’s path again to Westminster, in line with stories.

A supply throughout the NEC advised the Daily Express: “Keir was there and led from the front. He took up the mantel and even the most sceptical about Keir were very impressed.

“The Prime Minister argued that we couldn’t risk a by-election in Greater Manchester [for mayor]and that the psychodrama from the last 48 hours had not been helpful.”

It wouldn’t be the primary time that the mayor of a giant metropolis went on to develop into head of their nation’s authorities, although it’s uncommon. Three US presidents have completed so (Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge), and in Europe there are the extremely notable examples of Chancellor Willy Brandt (graduating from West Berlin), and Jacques Chirac (Paris). Here, after all, we noticed Boris Johnson perfecting his populist expertise in London earlier than, sooner or later, graduating to the premiership. The query for 2026 is whether or not Andy Burnham could make the same journey from his mayoral HQ on the Tootal Building in Manchester to 10 Downing Street. The upcoming by-election within the normally protected Labour seat of Gorton, nicely inside Burnham’s northern fiefdom, opens up not less than the likelihood that Burnham may repeat Johnson’s feat.

Burnham, a minister within the Blair and Brown governments who has been reborn because the mayor of Greater Manchester, has already been nearly prime minister, . He might presently be the “King of the North”, having fun with marginally higher rankings that the get together nationally, however he may now be attempting, for the third time, for an much more exalted place – chief of the Labour Party, and with it, the premiership. It was a laughable proposition for nearly the entire of Sir Keir Starmer’s interval of beforehand unassailable dominance, however abruptly, earlier than final autumn’s get together convention, in a panicky temper, the Labour Party appeared to have caught what could be termed “the Tory disease” – the delusion {that a} change of chief can clear up all its issues, coupled with an dependancy to plotting. Burnham, away from Westminster for many of the previous decade, gave the impression to be the closest factor they need to a contemporary begin.

A Labour supply has mentioned Andy Burnham’s declare that the media was advised of the NEC’s determination earlier than him is “categorically untrue”.

The Manchester mayor posted on X earlier: “The fact that the media was informed of the NEC decision before I was tells you everything you need to know about the way the Labour Party is being run these days. You would think that over 30 years of service would count for something but sadly not.”

But a Labour supply advised Sky News this was “categorically untrue”.

Beth Rigby posted on X: “Am told the party attempted to contact Andy shortly after the meeting had concluded over the phone and then contacted him via email. Am told the party categorically did not brief the media until Andy and the full NEC had been informed of the decision.”

Andy Burnham has hit again at these backing the blocking of his path again to Westminster.

Journalist Tom Baldwin, a former Labour adviser, posted on X on Sunday night: “I’ve always liked @AndyBurnhamGM but the prospect of him returning to Westminster has already added to inward-looking psychodrama that does no one any good. And an unnecessary by-election for Mayor of Manchester might well have resulted in long term damage to his reputation too.”

The Manchester mayor replied within the feedback: “I’m not sure losing a by-election does us any good either, Tom.”

Andrea Egan, the newly-elected common secretary of Britain’s largest commerce union Unison, mentioned: “I know many, many trade unionists will be so disappointed and angry at local members not being given a say over who their candidate should be.

“This isn’t the way any democratic organisation should be run. Now’s the time to unite our movement, not divide it.”

The TSSA union accused the NEC of blocking Mr Burnham for “factional reasons”, including: “Labour has lost its way and must change its path to survive.”

But Usdaw common secretary Joanne Thomas mentioned her union accepted the choice and the conclusion that Mr Burnham’s candidacy would imply “major disruption”.

Some Labour MPs have come out in favour of the NEC’s determination, urging the get together to keep away from infighting and transfer on to profitable the by-election.

Phil Brickell, who represents the Greater Manchester constituency of Bolton West, mentioned hypothesis about Andy Burnham’s candidacy in latest days had “seen the Labour Party quickly turn inward… undermining the PM’s efforts at home and abroad”.

Rugby MP John Slinger mentioned the “quick and clear decision” meant the get together may “move on from the damaging, introspection and psychodrama of the last week” and “pull together” behind the eventual candidate.